Telephone system



July 19, 1932. Y w. w. cARPEN-TER ET Al. 1,868,309

TELEPHONE SYS TEM Filed Nov. l2, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet vl MAM/NAL Pomp/25o ATTORNEY July 19, 1932. wQ w. CARPENTER ET AL 1,868,309

v TELEPHONE SYSTEM TOLL l Unio/NAM.

.`- W. I4. CARPENTER INVENTORS JE DAHL BV @3M A 7' TORNEV July 19, 1932 w. CARPENTER ET my.l 1,868,309

TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed Nov. 12.. 1931 e sheets-sheet 3 I4. W. CARPE N TER /NV s ENTOR J E DAHL A TTORNEV July 19, 1932. w. w. CARPENTER ET AL 1,868,309

TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed Nov. l2. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I STORING CIRCUIT ALLOTTER ALARM W. W. CARPENTER /A/l/ENTo/es J E DAHL A 7' TOR/VEV July 119, 1932- w. w. CARPENTER ET AL 1858,309

TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed NOV. l2... 1931 6 Sheets-Shet 5 W W CARPENTER /Nl/EA/To/Qs E @AHL ATTORNEY v July 19, 1932. w. w. CARPENTER ET AL 1,868,309

TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed'NOV. l2, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 IHI:

Hh 'Hf'- INI/ENTORS` W TER BV @EM A TTOR/VEV Patented July 19732 i 4iiiai'lan .STATES WAEEEN W. CARPENTER, or GARDEN CITY, N

AT1-INT vORANGE, N'EwJEEsEY, AssIGNoRs To BELLTELEPHONE LEBoRn'roa'IEsNcoE-- PORATED, oF NEW YOEK, N-.VY., AlcoRPoRATIoN 0E NEW YORK v ,y j 5 1 'TELEPHONE sirs'iEM Y l"Ammeatian nieafirovember 12,1931.` seriainatuso. fj I 4'This invention relates to'arrangements in telephone systems for handling such special services as the giving of information etc., and has-foritsobject to increase the eliiciency with which such service may be. given in connection Withparticular calls.

More specifically stated the invention provides for an arrangement at an information cnice whereby calls from toll operators are given. preference over calls from subscribers.V The )resent embodiment of the invention is a modification of the information oiiice disclosed and 'claimed` in Patent No. 1,816,634 to Carpenter et al., granted July 28, 1931.

`In that patent, calls incoming to :the information oftice are stored and are then dis- V tributed, to idle operators positionsin the order stored. In the present disclosure When a call is received which originated at a toll L -foperators position the local calls continue to be stored butthe vdistribution `to operators positions issuspended until the toll operator has been connected With/an idle information operator.

The invention will .be more clearlyl understood from consideration of the following description in connection With the accom-` panving drawings, in which:

iig. 1 shows a calling subscribers line, a diagrammatic showing of dial equipment for connecting the line with the information orifice, and an incoming trunk at the information office; A y y Fig. 2 shows a diagrammatic connection between a calling subscriber and Aa .toll ofiice together withV a trunk from the toll office to the information office; Y

Fig-3 shows an operators position atthe information office Fig. 4 includes a diagrammatic representation of a 'allotter and a storing circuit for useV with the trunk of Fig.` 1 together with a part ofthe start circuit ofFigs. 5 and 6;

Figs." 5 and 6 show a startcircuit by means of which calls storedon the storing circuit are directed to the operators position; and Fig. shows the manner of arranging. Figs. l 'to 6. Y When asubscriberat substation 111` in a 1 dial office Wishes to be connected with an'inin vthe above formation operator, hel dials` thenumberof that operator as given in the directory. fI-Iisf ine will be .extended byline iinder'll-B-and under thel control of sender109, district `selector i129 and oHiceselector 1401to. an.- idle trunk outgoing to the .information oiiice.`

vWhen the trunk is found, the sender proceeds EW YORK, AND 'Jack F. 13Min'oirwiisi' 'i i 55 soy right back contact of relay 115, right back contact. of relayy 116, through resista-nce 117 to conductor 126'leading to the -allotter ofv Fig. 4. A branch of this circuit extendsov'er the 'inner left back contact 'of relay.1'16,zba"ck contact of relay 1231toconduct0r 119 to identify the 'trunk at thev storing circuits. v'Relay 114 also connects relay 116 over the `inner left Contact of relay 114 and the leftback contactV of relay115 to conductor 120, which' also leads n i.

to the storing circuit.V v. The connection ofground to conductor 126 f indicates to the allotter that a call has been re.- ceived andthe allotter functions to lcause-an idle storing circuit to hunt for: the trunk -identified by ground onconductor 119.V When the storing circuit finds thisgtrunk, it 'interlocks With the trunk circuit byconnecting ground to conductor120.V The -storingcircuit also transfers conductor 119 into connection with conductor 423 leadingfto the start circuit Where it extends to aterminalV ofbrush505 .individual to the particular storing circuit.y

Inaddition it connects groundltoc'onductors i 420,'421an'd422. `The operation of the al-v, lotter 'and' storing circuit lis :fully `described identified patent to Carpenter, etal/.pv .A

The operation of relayf116` over conductor to free the allotter forusewvith other calls .120-.disconnectsground from conductor'126V i f of relay 124. '--Relayy116 also connects the l Y winding of relay`125` to brushes 103 and 106 in preparation for connection with an'opera- The opera tors position. K

The4 start circuitv shown in` Figs.5 and 6 includes two ystart switches which areused alternately unless one of them is disabled in vwhich case the other .operates continuouslyiV Switches 500 and 600 serve to give'a starting signal to the trunkovcr which'stored calls have been received in a predetermined order which is 'thesame as :that injwhich the storingY Circuits 'arerallotted The start circuit isalsoar'rangedto function only'ifA an idle.. Voperatorsposition isin readiness for a call.

When a position is occupied they operator? VAinserts the "plug 321 connected to her headset V320 inthe position jack322op'erating relay 324.1This'relay in turn operates relay 325. l tion otl relay 324 connects battery through relay 303 over the-back contact of relay 302, normal contacts of keys'V 301 and v309,'outerl upper contact of relay'324 to con# ductor 313, to mark the'receiving circuit 300 fas idle.' Similarly, relayf353 is connected to conductor 363 to markthe receiving circuit 350 vas idle. Relay 324` also connects ground i over thejupper back contact of Vrelay 302, conf "ilu "to the start circuit, while relay325 closes a tacts of keysV 301 and 309, inner upper contact,

of relay'324 to conductor 326'markingit idle similar circuit over the back contact of relay Y Y 352 to conductor326. VConductor 326 extends ina similar manner to the receiving circuits fof all kother operatorsso that as long as a single receiving circuit isidle this conductorV will be grounded.

t The connection of ground by vthe storing circuit toconductors 421 and 420 to indicate v contact.

`to vthe start circuit .that a callis waiting op- Y erat'esrelays 510 and 610. If atthe same time ground is connected to conductor 326 indicating that kva'receiving circuit is idle, a

` circuit will be closed from groundedfcon` ff,ductor 326'over the upper back` contact of relay 401l to lamp 402, and over outerv upper. of relay V510, lower contact of relay 540, winding of relay 514 to battery, and over the lower` back contact of yrelay 401, outer lower contact of relay 610, upper backcontact I ofrelay 540,winding ofv relay 614 to battery livhting lamp 402 and operating relays 514'Y and 614.vv Relay 510 in operating also closes the circuit from ground at its outer ilower-l "fco'ntact, contact of'key 511, inner lower back contact' of relay 512, sociated with brush Vv502, back contact, of relay.y

oit-normal contacts as- 513, normalcontact of magnet 507, winding ofl relay 508,to battery. Relayk508clo'ses an obvious circuit for magnet507 which causes switch 500 to stepfforward. Assuming that y the brushes ofswitch v50G-are standing inthe f position shown, willl engage a set vafterone step switch l500l of,terminals*connected-with 7"' the storingci'rcuit assumed Y to be y associated.,V

with the trunk of 1. Since, when the] i trunk and storing circuit were interconnected, ground was also vconnected to lconductor 422, a circuit now existsffrom brush 501,*outer lower vContact, of relay-512 to bat-f lte'ry through the winding of vrelay 513which Y operates andvopens the operating circuit of the switch to preventv its urthergadvance.l

A circuit isv also kclos'eril from*battery through relay 124 as previously traced Vto Vconductor 423 andy brush V506, lower contact ofrelay f l 517, inner lower contactof relay 514, through Vthe winding ofV relay 51.6 top 'i'ground` at the innerupperback contact of relay 540.` Relay 516 operates in this circuit locking over its lower:k contactin place'of the contacter- ,reiay 514'.

vlitelay124'alsoY operates connecting ground.l K y to the winding of relay125'to complete,` the Y test circuit and connecting ground'over' the back contacts of relay 125and magnet 107 to the winding of relay 108. Relay 1080peratesmagnet 107 and togetherfthey cause the'advance of switch 100 in search of an idle receiving circuit. lVhensuch a circuit is found as indicated by tliepresence of battery on'condu'ctor 313 Vorconductor 363, relay 125k operates, opening the circuit of relay108V and bringing switch 100 to rest. Relay 125' connects ground to the winding `of relay 118. Relayv 118 vextends Vthe talking :conductors tol the receiving circuit. Assuming that. circuit 300 was selected, a circuit'is completed from Y 306 Vo erate in this circuit. Relalv 130 has Relays130, 131and no function with trunks incoming from dial4 Y ofiices but iny trunks incoming from manual oiiices has its contacts connected in a manner similar to relay 230 of the trunk of Fig. 2.,

Relayv 131 closes'an obvious circuit for relay 127 which in turn Acloses a holdingcircuitfor relay 118 over its inner contact to `groundgat the'outer left contact `of relay 114, andvopnov cratesV relay 128 which in turn operatesrrelay. i;

115. -,Relay 115 .locks under the control of relay 114 independent of relay 1278,.v It also lopens the interlocking circuit between' relay r116 and the storingcircuit thus permitting the restoration 'of the storing circuit to nor mal and the release of .the start circuit'ror use with othery stored calls. f Relay1 115 also opens the ycircuitthrough 'the' ringing tone source 121gthus removing the inducedtone as V- an indication to the calling subscriber thatV the call is about to bey answered. Relay 11.6` j

releases-in turn releasing'relays 124 and- 125.AY When'relay 116 releases, ground is disconnected 'from conductorA 313 and relay 303 releases. l

. In the operators receiving circuit when relay 303 operated in series with relay 125 itlocked independent of relay 302, lighting lamp 304 to indicate to the operator 'that the correspondingreceiving circuit at her position has been selected. Relay 306 4operates as above described connecting ground to the winding of relay 302.V At this time resistance 307 and condenser 312 are connected in parallel with relay 306 to prevent objectionable noises iii the operators telephone. Relay 302' closes an additional circuit for lamp 304,l closes a shunt around the contact ot key 301, thus rendering the circuit of relay 306 independent oi' that key, and closes a circuit `from` ground at its outer upper front contact, inner upper normal contact of relay 308, winding- Vof relay 328 to battery. Relay 323 Ainitiates the successive operation of relays 3 30, 331, 332 and 308 which control the transmission of two-short impulses of tone to the 'operators telephone by intermittently connecting If-the secondary of thetone coil 329 in series with the operators receiver. Relay 332 is also arranged to operate the peg count meter 334 it key 335 is closed. l y

Relay 308 in operating, following the termination of the second impulse of tone, locks over its inner upper contact to groundat the outer upper front contact lof relay 302.

t also extends the tip and ring conductors through to the operators telephone set and opens the circuit for the tonecontrol relays permitting these relays to release. It also` removes the bridge through resistance 30.7A

from the talkin@v conductors ermitt-in" con versation to take place.-

Then the operator has finished giving the desired information to the calling subscriber, she operates disconnect key 301. VTheoperation ot this key closes a` circuit :trol-n ground at the outer upper contact of relay 302, over the upper operated contact of key 301,`windingoipi relay 314 to battery.` Relay 314 opens the tip conductor and connects ground over its front contact to the windings of relay 306,`

The connection of ground tov in parallel. the lower winding of rela-y 306 holds relay 130 operated but is inetlective. The connection of ground to the upper winding of relay 306 shunts relay 131 which release in turn releasing relays 127, 128 and 118. Theref lease of relay 118 releases relays 130 and 306v equipment at the originating olice.VVhen the calling` subscriber restores his, receiver, the dial equipment is vrestored to V.normal f and these relays release. leased indicating that the information opera-V tor has disconnected and relay lloperated With relayV 118 re-V 70 i indicating thatthe incoming end oithecoii- Y nection `has `not been released, `a circuit iS- Y closed -or 4 the trunk alarm which operates aiteran interval to indicate the unstandard conditiou E its , When it becomes necessary in the extensionv ofa toll call for 4the toll operatoryto use the inforinationservice, sheinserts the plug of,Y a` V cord at'her position intoa jack leading to a trunk such as that shown in Fig.` 2.V This operationfcompletes a circuit from battery` i and'ground'in the cord circuitiv over the tip` and ring1conductors ofthe tr'unkto theleft.

windings of repeating coil 212 and the wind-'1 ings of relay 210in series..V Relay 210foper-` ates in this circuit in turn operating relay i 214.` Relay 21,4 in operating closes a circuit from battery ,through the winding of relay 224,inner lower back contact of relay 215,

vinnerrupper rontcontact otzrelay 214 to ground. Relay 214 also closes acircuit from.

ringing source 221, inner lowerrtront contact of relay 214, upper backl contact of relay 215, condenser 223, lower right winding of re# Apeati'ng coil 212`to battery. A tone resemf blingthe rusual ringingtone is thereby trans-l niitted Vover thetrunk tothe tollfoperator.A

Relay 224 closes an obvious circuit for lamp Y 235 and connects batteryifrom the upper back contact of relay 2.33, through resistances 248 and 247 to conductors 238 and 239 which eX`4 tend to the start circuit. In the start circuit these Aconductors are' connected to windings of relays 403 and 404 which are in turn conwhen all of the operators positions are busy.

Relays 403 and'404 connect' battery 'through the windings ofy relay 401 over the back con! f tacts of relays 616 and 516'to ground. This insures lthat relay 401 cannot be operated during the time that the start Vcircuit is actually functioning to startthe hunting operation of a. subscribers trunk. Relay 401 operated,v I

conductor 326 which is grounded by the operators telephone circuit, is disconnected from the contacts of relays 510 and 610 thus preventing the operating of relays 514 and 614 and suspending the starting of hunting by other subscribers trunks. At the same time relay 401 connects conductor326 toconductor 234 and thence over the lower back ,n

contact of 'relay 233, outer lower` back conrelay214, upper winding of relay 232 Vto battery.

Y tact ot relay 215, outer upper front contactof Relay 232 operates, locking in a circuit` i romground through its lower winding and. l inner lower contact, outer upper contact of 1 relay 224, to battery at the outer upper con- 105' 'l nected to ground in the `signal circuit except Y if Y tact of'relay'233. Relay 232 connects ground ,tothe polarizing winding of relay 225 and connects ground through the operating windv' ing of relay 225 to brushes 203 and 206 to prepare a test circuit to determine when an V`idlery operatorsV receiving circuit is engaged.

Switch 200 has no normal position andwhenV the trunk is idle, stands in engagement with 1 Y Q the receiving circuit last used. Iffthatci'rcuitis idle whe'nthe-test circuit is prepared, batteryWill vbe connected to conductor 313 j or. 4363 in the manner abovefdescribed .and

. relayA 225 will operate. f If the 'receiving circuit is busy, battery willbev absent. and rel-ay'v 225 cannot operate. If twoV trunks test Athe' same receiving circuitsimultaneously, the re-Y .layk windings are so arranged that neither test relaycan operate; When relay 2.32 operi ated, it also vclosed a circuit from'battery through the winding of relay 241, upper front contact'of relay 232, back contact of relay 242, lower hack contact of relay 228 to ground. The operation of relay 241 closes' a circuit fromv batteryv vthrough the winding of relay 208,7back contact of magnet l207, backcon# tact of relay 228, front Contact of relay 241 to groundat thev back contactof relay V225.

If relayr225 A does not operate, relay 208 will now operate to close an obvious circuitfor magnet 207y which inattracting its armature opens thew'circuit of relay 208'; 'Relay 208 y lthereupon releases opening the circuit of magnet i 207 which also .releases advancing switchV 200 into 'engagement with the next receiving circuit. If this receiving circuit is:

also busy, relay 208 reoperatesvand the cycle isrepeated Auntil .an idle receiving' circuit is closingan obvious circuit forrelay 242. Re-

found'. i When such a circuit is engaged, relay v225 operates opening the circuit of relav208 and.

` lay-242'opens the circuit-off relay 241 and .winding of relay 218 and battery. `Relay218 when lrelay 241`releases a'fcircuit is closed from ground at the front contact of relay 242 overthe back Acontact of relayv 241 to the in operating extends the tip and ring conductors ofthe trunk tothe tip and ring conductorsV of xrthe receiving circuit, thereby completing a circuit from Vbattery through the lower rightwinding of repeating' coil 212,` vwinding of relay 230, lowerV contact of relay 218,*b`rush 202 through the lower winding of relay `306, normal contact of ykey 301, upper winding of'relay 306, brush 201, yupper contact :of relay 218,'winding of relay 231, upper f right winding of repeating coil 2412 to ground.

Relay 230 in operating closes a shunt around the lower winding of relay 210 to operate -a Y 214 causing the operation vof relay 228.YY Re.-V

lay 228 closes an obvious circuit for relay 215.

It also connects ground to brushes'203 and 206 holding relay 303operated and 'shunting' the operating winding of relay 225 causing thatrelayto release in turn releasing relay 242. Relay 215i in operating locks over its inner lower front contact to the inner' upper front contact of relay 214. ltdisccnnects. the ringing tone from the trunk as' an indi-v cation that the call is about to be answered.. In addition it opens the circuit offrelay 224 1 and the energizingcircuit ofrelay '232.y Re# lay 224 releases in turn openingthelecking' circuitl of relay 232 so that relay232 alsoreleases. The release ofk relay 224 alsofeX- tinguishes the lamp 235. Vith relay 232 Vreleased, relay 225 is disconnected fro'rnconductor 313. The jrelease of relay 224 Aalso in turn releasing relayv 401 andrestoring the operativeness of the start circuit.` Inthe operators position the circuits function as previously described, relay 303 remainingfo locked over conductor 313 to ground `at the front contact of relay 22,8. Y

At the termination of the conversation the operator operates disconnect key 301, operating relay 314 as before." Relay 314 opens the tip conductor and connects ground to the windings of relay/'306 in parallel. Relay231 is shunted and releases while'both relays 306V and 230V are held operated. The release of relay 231 opensthe circuit of relay 227 lwhich in turn releases relays 218 and 228.` fRelayrv 228 in releasing disconnects ground from ccnductor 313 releasing relay 303. The release vof relay 218 opens the circuit by which relays 230 and 306 were held Voperated andxthese relays release. Relay 306 in turn releases relay 302 which extinguishes lamp 304 indi- A n eating to the information operator that she Y may now release the disconnectley 301,.` i The rest-eration of the disconnectkey releases the disconnect relay 314 and reconnects' relay 303 to conductor 313 so that thev receiving circuit is now ready for reselection. i

mits a supervisory signal to the toll operator. Relay 215 is held operated under the control of relay 214 untilthe toll operator removes e her cord circuit fromthe trunkjack to 1re-A vlease relays 210 and 214 andrestore the trunk circuit to normal. Disconnection by th'eftoll v operator whetherbefore lor after disconnec- The release v'of .relay 230 opens fa lshunt 'A 'around lower winding of relay 210 and transtion by the information operator will restore Y the trunk circuitto normal. Y Y

If the informationroperator cannot give the necessary information at once, she may wish to resignal theftoll operator' when the information has been obtained. To do so, Y

she operates flashing key1310. This key connects battery through thellwinding of relay 305, over key 301 to ground at the outer upper i releases relays 403 and 404 in the start circuitV 18.5

iesgso front contact of relay 302. W ith relay 305" operated the ring conductor is disconnected from the operators telephone and battery from the flashing key is connected'V over the front contact of relay 4305 to thewindings of relay 306 in parallel. Battery through the upper winding of relay 306 is connected through the winding of relay 231 to ground` holding relays 306 and 231 operated, while battery to the lower winding of relay 306 is" connected through the winding oi relay 230 to battery V-thus shunting relay 230. Relay 230 opens the shunt 'around the lower winding of relay 210 as a signal to the tolloperator. Relays 305 and 230 follow theoperation of the flashing key resulting linl a flashing signal at the toll operatorsposition. Y e If either conductor 238 or'conductor 239 is open or grounded, the start circuit cannot functionpro'perly. If either of these con.

ductors isk lopen, the corresponding start switch will not give preferential service, while if either of them is grounded, service by the corresponding start switch will be prevented as long as the grounded condition continues. To guard against such conditions a circuit is closed whenever Yone of the relays 403 or 404 operates alone to operatemrerlay 410.' Relay 410 causes the successive operation of relay 411 and relay 412k which lights lamp 413 andcloses an alarm circuit.' Relays 410 and411'are slow to operateto allow s uiicient timeifor the` trunk to iind'lan operators .A

position if possible. l e y During the: progress lof" a" toll Vcall the operation offeither. relay 403 yor 404 :closes circuit for relay 405 in series `with condenser 406 and interrupted ringing source 407.f

Each closure of the ringinginterrupter op-` erates relay 405fwhich connect'slrelay 408, over the contact of relay 405 to groundedcondu'ctor 326.V 4Relay 403m turn. operatesV relay"y 409 which in turnconnects ground to conductor 414 and the winding of relay A243. Duringpthe silent interval relays 405, .408 and 409 release. Relay 243, which iscom'inonto a plurality Vof similar trunks, is thereforel intermittently operated. At the iirst opera-` tion of relay 243, lfollowing the operation ofrelay 224, a circuit is closed from vground over its upper contact, normal contactandwindi ing ofrelay 236, inner upper back contact of.

relayV 233, through'resistance 245, to battery at the lower contact of relay 224'." Relay '23.6

operates, locking to groundat its front contact and closes a 4circuit `from battery over. the lower contact of rel ay`jp224through re.-`

sistance 244, upper winding" of relay 237,

front contact of relay 236l to ground. :How-.5 ever, relay 237 is shunted by ground over the upper contact of relay 243 connected over the` back contact of relayg237 to resistance 244 in shunt of the upper winding. oil-that relay. During the silent interval, relay 243 releases opening this shunt, and relay 237 operates,

locking through its lower winding and lower contact to battery at the lower contact ofv relay 224. The next operation of relay 243 connects ground over theinnerupper front contact of relay 237 to the winding'of` relayv 236 in shunt ofbattery through resistance 245,'thereby releasing relay 236. `Since relay] Y 237 is held locked, `a circuit is now. closed from ground through the winding of relay 233, outer upper contactof'relay 237, lower back contact` of relay 236," resistance`245', lower contact of relay y224'to` battery; How ever, relay 236 cannotV operate since' it Vis shunted by the same .ground which shunts theV circuit; Italso disconnectsbatteryfrom.thel

winding of.V relay 236 to prevent its reopera#y tion. i In addition it opens the Aenergizing cir- Y cuitfpf relayf232 thereby completely isolating the trunk from the start circuit. Ita-lso C0I1"I1CtS-bettery @Ver its ,Outer upper .frQIlt Contact to conductor 246f`which'extendsto the winding of relay A410 to causethe oper-ation-y [le li @telephone system,affitpluralitr l i Off trunk Circuits@ .Secc'arlf-pluralityOftrunk2 circuits, a .plurality ofV operators positions,

Ineansto efxtend'icall'sfto said trunk circuits, Y v ineansresponsive to the extension ofcalls to i said first plurality of trunk .circuits forstor1 l; s

` o idle operatorsfpositions vin f the 4,order Vin` whichjthey are stored, and "meansV responsive',

to theextensio'n of a call to oneof said sec?` l ing. said calls, ineans'to extend said calls fto ond yplurality of trunk circuits tosuspend thev extension of stored calls to operators positions.Y

f 2. In atelephonesystem, avirst group of` trunk. circuits, a second groupY of trunk `cir;- cuits, agplurality of operatorsv positions, a

lplurality. of. lstorin', i;y circuits, Van allotter, meansfin said allotter responsive to the .eX-V,

ifo

tensionoi calls to said trunk circuits ofsaid )first groupy for causing ysaid.. storing'l circuits to .be associated with said trunk circuits in4 'a predetermined 0.rder,fa start-'circuit= meansV controlledby saidrstartvcircuit lto causethe, i c oi'inection-w oiT said: first groupV ,ofl .trunk 'cireA cuits with saidV operatorsV positions ,in Vthe saineorder as said storing circuits were ab lotted,"andV means responsive tothe extension oftrunki` circuits to disable .saidY start circuit. 1 telephone systemfa `first group! o'f'fA trunk circuits-,- .a second4 group of trunk'zciri of a call to oneof said second group In a cuits, fa plurality of operators positions, a

plurality i of-.storing circuits,v Van;allotterg` means in'said allotter responsive to the eX- i tension of, callsto trunk'cir'cuits of said first group for'causing said storingzcircuits to be associated VWithsa'id trunk circuits in a pre- 'V determined order, a start circuiti rneanscontrolled by ysaid start circuit eiiective as long asfone of, said operators positions islridle to cause `the connectionrofj said trunk clrcuits withV saidfopera'tors positions 1n the same orderas saidstoring circuits Werel allotted, vandvmean's responsive totheextension of. a call' tol onev of said. second groups `of trunk` c'irfciiits to render sa'idfstart vcircuit Ymeans 'ineffective regardless offthe idle condition otsaidoperators positions.

111,3. l'eleplion'e s' stein,v acentraliaedinformation oiiice',.rl'oca ltrunk'circuits income inglto'said oiiicefrom local offices, tolltrunk circuitsfincoming to? said roffice from".v toll "i oili'cesaa pluralityo'f loperators positions iat said information oiice, means for `extending calls Vto. said trunk circuits, means responsive tothe 'extension' of callstoV saidflocal trunk` `I:circuits for vstoringfsaid calls, 1means or'disV- tribnting said 'stored callsto. said operators positions in,y Athe order in-Y which ythey ,"Were stored;V and means responsive to the-exten- Y si'oiiof a` call toone'of said ytoll trunkcircuits,

' 3.07, tor rendering said .distributing fmeaiisfin- 5. In al -teleplionel'v centralized Y information oiiice, local trunk ffcircliitsrini coming ftosaidi oiiice irom'flo'cal' fofiices, toll runlg circuits" incoming Y to saidf office. fromz i '7' toll',oiiicesiVv a pluralityo'f opeato'rspositions f atisaijd 'information' oiice, means for extendf Vingj calls yto said Vtrunk l circuits',-y means i rey sp'onsive to the extension of callsto said'local 40? trunk "circuits vfor storing said ca11' s,'l a start Circ'uit'iorl 'causing the distribution of said4 .Y ealls'ffto Ysaid'operators.p'ositions'infthe ori-1 derqstored, and meansfresponsive toY the'eX- tension-,of a calljto one oi said'toll'trunksfor `rendering said*v starty circiiltinefective. n

6.vi Inra telephone system,Y a 'centralized 'inw-v Yformation office, localvtrunl circuits 'incoml' v ing tov said olice from. local offices, toll trunk vcircuits"incomingv to said oiiicefrorntoll o-A, l ficesfa plurality of operators 'positions at4 said information oiice, means'for extending' calls to said trl'inklcircuits, means responsive lto the extensionof *calls* to said local trunkcircui't'sjtor'storingsaid calls, a start circuit vrorcausing the distributiony orl said [calls to said operators,positions'in the order stored, means under the controlQofisa-id operators i positions forr'endering saidsta'rt circuitjeil'ec-V tive, andi-means responsive'to'the extension ".ofa call to one of said toll trunks forurenderi in'g'said position controlled means-ineffective vonvsaid start circuit.1-r .r-

Y 7, In ai'rtelephone'system'fa centralizediri formation oiice;A vlocal 'trunk Circuitsl incorn-l ,ing toisaid oflice' from local ofllicesptoll trunk Y messes biscuits ieeeming t0 Saidioce freleoll; of?l viiczes, a plurality n of operators? positions at .Y

said information cnice, means for extending call'sto saiditrunk circuits, means responsive to thefextension oir/callstoesaidwlocal trunk circuitsifor storing said calls, ,a start circuit for causingthe distributionl 'of said calls to saidfoperators positions'g'im the order stored, means under! the control y of said'.r operators positionsv for rendering said start circuit effective vonly if one of said positions is idle', andme'ans responsive to the extensionV of a call to'oneof'said toll trunks foi-render? extension ofcalls to said local trunk circuits lfor storing said calls ,a`start vcircuit means `Vunder the control of said start circuit to cause said'localltrunk circuits to'be associated with;

operators *positionsv in'. the order finy which v thel incomingcalls, were stored, a conductor connectingy said 'start circult kandsaid oper 4 L ators". ositions means at e'atzhoV erators osition'toy marksaidzcon'ductor Wlien' said positionv is idle;k andmeans responsive tothe eX- tengan of arcanes 'opefqf Said-tou trunk, i'

'circuits 'for disconne'ctingr said'A conductor from said start'circult.

'9. In aftelephonesystem;acentralizedin-V formation o'iice,k `lo'c'altrunlfcircuits incoming Y tofsaid office from' local-oftices,i`toll trunk ciry cuits incomingtosaid officerom tol-l I a pluralityof operators positions atsaid in-J formation-` orifice,v means for extending :calls to' said' trunk circuits; means responsiveto the extensionofcalls to saidlo'cal trunk circuits for storing said callsA a start circuit, means i under the'control o f'said startcircuitto Vcause said local vtrunkcircuits to be associatedvvitlr Y operators. vpositions in the order inv which the '.incomin g calls were stored; conductorcon- .g Y

necting said start circuit 'and said,v operators? positions,V means at eachl operators positionto mark ksaid conductor When said position is' 1 v idle, and means responsive to the. extension of a call to one of' said toll trunk circuitsY for" disconnectingsaidY conductor from saidf start *circuitf V`and`for extending" said .con- "ductor to said toll `trunk circuit(vr 10. Ina telephone system, a 'centraliVzed'in-' formation @ses swaehfendea '10aa aunk arr cuits .incoming to said oiice froinjlocal oiicesa switchfended toll trunk circuits incoming to said ofiice from a toll oiice,la',vpluralityofV operators? positionsrat said information orifice,A

means for extendingcalls'to said vtrunk cir- Y Y i cuits,"v means responsiveY toftheletension 'ot calls'tosaid; local trunkf'circuits for storing;

said calls, a start circuit, means under the control of said start circuit to cause the switches of saidY local trunk circuits to hunt for idle operators positions, a conductor ne necting said start circuit and said operators positions, means at each operators position to mark said conductor when said position is idle, means responsive tothe extension of a call to one of said toll trunk circuits for dis- `connecting said conductor from said start circuit and extending it to said toll trunk circuit, and means operated oversaid conductor for causing the switch of said toll trunk to hunt for an idle operators position.

11. Iii. a telephone system, a centralized information oflice, switch-ended localrtrunk circuits `incoming to said oiiice from local offices, switch-ended toll trunk circuits incoming to said office from a toll oiiice, a plurality of operators positions at said information office, means for-extending calls to said trunk circuits, means responsive to the extension of calls to said local trunk circuits,

circuit and extending it to said toll trunk circuit, means opera-ted oversaidconductor for causing the switch of said toll trunk to hunt for an -idle operatorsposition, and meansresponsive to the finding of an operators position to reconnect said conductor with said start circuit.

12. In a telephone' system, a centralized information oliice, local trunk circuits incoming to said oiice from local oflices, toll trunk circuits incoming to said office frointoll offices, a plurality of operators positions at said information oiice, means for extending calls to said trunk circuits, means responsive to the extension of calls to said loca-l trunk circuits for storing said calls, means for distributing said stored calls to said'operator's positions in the order iniwhich they were stored, means responsive to the extension of a call to one of said toll trunks for rendering said distributing means ineffective, means to associate said toll trunk circuit with an operators position, and meansresponsive to said association for again rendering said dis'- Y tributing means eifective.

13. In a telephone system, a centralized information olice, local trunk circuits incom- 4 in@ to said ofice from local oiiices, toll trunk circuits incoming to said oiiice from toll offices, a plurality of operators posi- `tive on saidstart circuit.

responsive to the extension of `calls to said local trunlr circuits for storing saidcalls, a start circuit for causing the distribution of said calls to said operators positions in the order stored, vmeans responsive to the extension of a call to one of said `toll trunks for rendering said start circuit ineii'ective, means to associate said toll trunk circuit with an circuits incoming tosaid oiiice from toll ofi fices, a plurality of operators positions at said information oflice, means for extending calls to said trunk circuits,V means responsivetoV the extension of calls 'to said local trunk circuits for storing said calls, a start circuit'for causing the distributionxof said calls to said operators positions in the order stored, means under the control of said' operators positions for rendering said start circuit effective, means responsive to the extension ofk a call to oneof'said toll trunks for rendering'said f position controlled means ineifectivejon said start circuit, means to associate said toll trunk circuit with an'opera'tors position, and means responsive to said association for again renderingsaid position controlled means effec- 15. Ina telephone system, a centralized information office, local trunk circuits incoming to said oflice" from local oiiices, toll trunk 'cir-y cuitsincoming to said office from toll oiiices,

a plurality of operatorspositionsat said* information oilice, means forpextending calls to said trunk circuits, means responsivev to the v.extension of calls tofsaid local trunk circuits for` storing said calls, a start circuit, means under thecontrol of said start circuit Vto cause said local trunk `circuits to be associated with operators positions in thenorder in which the incoming calls were stored, a conductor connecting said start circuit and 'said operators positions,;means at each operators position to mark saidl vconductorV when said position is idle,means responsive to the extension of a call to one of said toll trunk circuits for disconnecting said conductor from said start circuit, and for extending said conductor to said ntoll trunk circuit,.

means to 'associate said toll trunk circuit with an operators position, and means reconnection-of said conductor to said start circuit. Y

12o sponsive to said association for restoring the In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe c our names this 9th-day ofNovember 1931.

WARREN W, CARPENTER JACK r. DAHL. Y n,

extending calls to said trunk circuits, means 

